Customer Reviews

The Wham Of That Memphis Man!

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This record, released in 1963, inspired no less than Stevie Ray Vaughan and many other blues giants. On this great album, Lonnie Mack shows off awesome guitar skills, as well as a soulful, gospel-tinged voice that was ahead of its time.

Every cut on this record is choice, but in particular, his famous instrumental "Wham," "Where There's A Will, There's A Way," "I'll Keep You Happy," "Why," and his cover of Chuck Berry's "Memphis" are standouts.

This is a must for blues lovers, guitar music lovers, and classis 60's soul/R&B lovers. Enjoy!

I will not waste time (yours and mine) extolling the virtues of these recordings; see the more comprehensive one on Ace and its reviews. The key here is that it is in remastered mono and has some real punch. I regret that there are no bonus tracks, but it is really good to hear these in mono.

This is a Holy Grail album. A little-known, soul-drenched masterpiece featuring a brilliant young guitarist. Lonnie Mack was so phenomenally good that years later a top pro said he still can't figure out how to play those incredible leads. The stars definitely all came together when this was recorded. Great songs, great arrangements, wailing chick backup singers, sizzling sax, rocking drums - and Mack's mind-boggling guitar playing which set a standard for musicality, fluidity and drive that has rarely ever been matched. He was just a kid, but he played with total confidence and great taste. The solos compliment the songs, rather than dominate them; his playing is awe-inspiring, but not over-the-top or self-indulgent (unlike so many guitarists who would follow). His singing is very good; soulful, but again without the histrionics of so many current singers. Remarkably, almost every song on the CD is good to flat-out great. And as another reviewer mentioned, the exciting news is that this re-mastered release finally does justice to the sound of the original vinyl recording. I about wore the grooves off my old "Wham" album and have been waiting years for good digital versions of these songs. This is some of the best rhythm and blues-influenced, early road-house rock you will ever hear.

Good simple riffs -recognized many from subsequent songs. Easy to see how Lonnie Mack is revered by many rock guitar players.

The Saxophone Player on Track 11 "Down in the Dumps" was my Uncle Don Henry. :) He also toured with Conway Twitty playing the Sax and did alot of uncredited sax work for other famous musicians.